Improvement in machines for finishing lasts



4 Sheets--Sheet1.

J. D. SPILLER.

Improvement in Machines for Finishing Lasts.

Patented Aug. 6,1872.

ma WM 4Sheets--Sheet2. J.D.SPILLER.

improvement in Machines for Finishing Lasts.

Patented Aug. 6, 1872.

4 Sheets-- Sheet 3.

J.D.SPILLER.

improvement in Machines for Finishing Lasts.

Patented Aug.'6, i872.

dfozwm'o/ l Dal THUQRA PHM 00. Ml (USHER/YES PROCESS} 4 Sheets -Sheet 4.

J. D. S'PILLER.

improvement in Machines for Finishing Lasts.

Patented Aug. 6, 1872.

- may UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JOSEPH 1). sPILLEE, on MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR FINISHING LASTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,251, dated August 6, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osEPH D. SPILLER, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Machine for Removing the Stub-Shorts of Lasts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of my improved machine. Fig; 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line yy of Fig. 2; Fig.

' 4, a vertical section on the line 2 z of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, detail to be referred to.

In the manufacture of lasts for boots and shoes, each last comes from the lathe with irregularportions, usually denominated stubshorts,projectingbeyond its toe and heel; and to remove these stub-shorts preparatory to smoothly finishing the last is the object of my invention, which consists in an organized machine provided with holders for the reception of apattern or former, and a last from which the stub-shorts are to be removed; the former being brought into contact with a guide, and one of the stub-shorts on the unfinished last simultaneously brought into the path of a revolving cutter by means of a movable frame or otherwise, whereby the stub-shorts are removed and the last given the exact size and shape; of the former employed, a revolving cutter being also used for trimming off the under side of the toe of the last.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried this movable frame, near its top at d d, are

pivoted the upper ends of two long arms, D, the lower ends of which are secured to the opposite ends of a horizontal cross-beam, E, in bearings e, in which revolve two vertical shafts, F G, which carry at their lower ends gear H I and at their upper ends holders KL, in one, K, of which is secured the pattern or former M, consisting of a finished last of the required size and shape, and in the other, L, is secured the last N as it comes from the lathe, with the stub-shorts f g projecting from its toe and heel. The motion of the gear H is communicated to the gear I through an intermediate gear, 0, which revolves on a stud projecting down from the under side of the cross-beam. To each end of the cross-beam is secured an arm, 6, pivoted to one end of an arm, is, secured to a rocker-shaft, P, which serves to prevent the frame from springing or twisting. Each holder K L is constructed in the following manner, viz.: To the upper end of each shaft F Gr is secured a plate, I, provided with a slot, through which a bolt, m, passes into a dovetailedpiece, Q, upon which the two portions no of the holder slide, so that their distance apart may be varied to accommodate lasts of different lengths. In a suitable way in each of the portions n o of the holder slide two standards, pp, which are made to approach and recede from each other by turning a screw, q, having a right and left hand thread, in order to accommodate lasts of different widths. r r are set-screws passing through the standards near their tops, and bearing against the last to keep it in position when properly adjusted. To the back of the portion a is secured a plate, 8, to which is pivoted a spring-gage, 9, which strikes against a stop. When the gage is in the position seen in Fig. 4 the heel of the last is brought into contact therewith to determine its position, after which the gage is thrown down out of the way, as seen in Fig. 3. The sides of the bottom of the last at that point corresponding to the ball ofthe foot rest on projecting portions of the front standards 19 p, which serve as guides to insure the last being held perfectly plumb within its holder. sis a shaft carrying a revolving wheel provided with curved cutters t t, for removing the stub shorts from the toe and heel of the last N. S is a circular guide having its periphery rounded, as seen in Fig. 1, and against which the toe and heel of the former or pattern-last M is moved in cutting ofi the stub-shorts of the last N, the curvature of the guide corresponding to that of the cutters t t. This guide can be moved laterally in either direction by screws to, so that it may be adjusted to the exact position required, and it may also be revolved on its center to utilize different portions of its periphery. T is a horizontal shaft placed underneath and in a direction at right angles to the shaft 8, and carrying at its front end a cutter-wheel, V, for shaving the under side of the toe of the last N, which is brought into contact therewith by depressing the frame (3. The shaft T is supported in bearings 11 w, the bearing '0 being pivoted to a plate,

10, and the bearing 10 pivoted to a plate, 11,

which latter slides in a suitable guide, 12,

Fig. 5, to allow the cutter-wheel to yield to enable it to follow the under side of the toe of the last N and to prevent charrin g, a spring, 00, being employed to raise the plate ll and its bearing to return the cutter-wheel to its origin al position. The former or pattern-last M being properly secured in its holder K, the unfinished last N as it comes from the lathe is also properly secured in its holder L, when the operator depresses the swinging frame 0 and swings in the cross-beam E, so as to bring the underside of the toe of the last N into contact with the cutter-wheel V to give it the required taper. The frame is now allowed to be carried up till the stub-short f on the toe of the last N is brought in contact with the cutters t t and the operator swings the pattern M around slightly in a horizontal plane until it touches the guide S, when the exact form of the toe of the pattern is given to the toe of the last N the motion of the pattern M being communicated thereto through the connections above described. The operator now gives a half revolution to the holder K, which brings the heel of the pattern-last M in line with the guide S, and the frame 0 is depressed and the cross-beam E swung in so as to bring the top of the stub-short g of the heel of the unfinished last N in contact with the cutters t t, the frame and beam rising during the cutting, and the operator moving the pattern-last slightly from side to side in front of the guide till the stub-short is removed from the top to the bottom of its heel portion, when the heel of the pattern-last touches the guide, by which means I am enabled to produce the exact counterpart of the pattern-last. When the stub-shorts of one last are removed another last from the lathe is placed in the holder L and properly secured, and the operation is contin ued, as before described. In the Working machine the elastic cords b will be dispensed with and weighted cords or springs be substituted therefor, and one cutter, 2, may be employed instead of two, if desired.

0 him.

JOSEPH D. SPILLER. In presence of-- P. E. Tnsonmmonnn, N. W. STEARNS. 

